Rebecca Sohn
Rebecca Sohn is a freelance science writer. She writes about a variety of science, health and environmental topics, and is particularly interested in how science impacts people's lives. She has been an intern at CalMatters and STAT, as well as a science fellow at Mashable. Rebecca, a native of the Boston area, studied English literature and minored in music at Skidmore College in Upstate New York and later studied science journalism at New York University.
Latest articles by Rebecca Sohn
![a spiral galaxy imaged in full color](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XFV8msbEKcKTCACcMzUVMd-320-80.jpg)
The universe looks amazing in new photos from the James Webb Space Telescope and famed X-ray observatory
By Rebecca Sohn published
Stunning new NASA images depict our universe in all its visible, and invisible, glory thanks to the combined powers of the James Webb Space Telescope and the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.
![astronauts in spacesuits look at a tiny plant growing from the surface of a moon or planet](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UT9MExdRpVjN2BkpPZT6Sf-320-80.jpg)
NASA serves up $750,000 to Deep Space Food Challenge winners in cook-off for astronaut eats
By Rebecca Sohn published
NASA announced the winners of phase two of the Deep Space Food Challenge, an initiative to design new food production technologies that could be used by astronauts on extended voyages.
![Eagle Nebula](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fuiv8KHZ9jMsYAKBsxajoj-320-80.jpg)
The Eagle Nebula: Facts about the home of the Pillars of Creation
By Rebecca Sohn last updated
Reference The Eagle Nebula, or Messier 16, is an area of active star formation about 5,700 light-years from Earth and is home to the iconic Pillars of Creation.
![The Jamess Webb Space Telescope's view of the spectacular Phantom Galaxy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jXwhLmwUt9XyJ9LGTSkVoD-320-80.jpg)
12 amazing James Webb Space Telescope discoveries across the universe
By Rebecca Sohn last updated
The James Webb Space Telescope is imaging the universe in unprecedented detail. Stunning photos showcase the observatory's pioneering work in deep space.
![A Blue Marble image captured in 2002 shows southeast Asia and Australia.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Nwf5e5HYs3m32JKCziYaCP-320-80.jpeg)
NASA highlights climate research at opening of inaugural summit
By Rebecca Sohn published
NASA has studied our home planet for 60 years. Now, the agency is ramping up its efforts, collecting more detailed data on the Earth and focusing on developing sustainable technologies.
![A view of Jupiter's moon Europa captured by NASA's Juno mission during its Sept. 29, 2022, close flyby at the moon. The spacecraft was 945 miles (1,500 kilometers) above the moon's surface when the image was taken.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ShUgGBDmkArFBD4JzzeUy6-320-80.jpg)
Jupiter moons take center stage in bonus science from NASA's Juno spacecraft
By Rebecca Sohn published
The Juno team got an unexpected opportunity to snatch close glimpses of some of Jupiter's bizarre moons.
![NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter on the Martian surface as seen by the Perseverance rover.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9zsgYm8hFwRKzYqhAxZHHk-320-80.jpg)
Space helicopters will help us explore Mars and other worlds. Here's how.
By Rebecca Sohn published
When NASA scientists were planning the Mars Perseverance mission, they decided to try something new: Instead of just sending a rover, they'd also send up a small helicopter.
![Mineral inclusion in a diamond, containing ringwoodite, enstatite and ferropericlase.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/v64hJgcfW3nAYAKkgtRwCm-320-80.jpg)
Rare diamonds suggest water lurks much deeper in Earth's interior than scientists thought
By Rebecca Sohn published
Clues about water in Earth's deep interior were recently extracted from rare diamonds.
![boxy spacecraft flies toward space rock](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Th8yyQTXrgBPoYAkVq5FQD-320-80.jpg)
NASA's planetary defense mission will test asteroid deflection, but how realistic is it?
By Rebecca Sohn last updated
NASA's DART mission mimics what scientists would do if an asteroid were headed toward Earth, but there are a few differences compared to defense against a real asteroid impact.
![person in protective gear standing in a metal framework](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BoG7wB7htd2usNvxZcuEKm-320-80.jpg)
The James Webb Space Telescope makes stunning images thanks to these engineering solutions
By Rebecca Sohn last updated
A group of engineers was tasked with designing a space telescope that would change the way we see our universe. Just one problem: much of the technology they would need didn't exist.
![webb's first deep field](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cMDRA3454bGvfZASbxviZe-320-80.jpg)
With the James Webb Space Telescope in full operations, scientists look to reveal the earliest galaxies
By Rebecca Sohn published
The first galaxies in the universe may be chaotic, faint, and small, but no one has seen a galaxy in the universe's first 400 million years. Webb will change that.
![crowded auditorium](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/59eriMzSZPPcSyZA9tG6ne-320-80.jpg)
The James Webb Space Telescope made Maryland the center of the universe for a day. Here's what it was like.
By Rebecca Sohn published
Long before I arrived at the James Webb Space Telescope's image release event, I knew the telescope's images would be breathtaking. They still left me speechless.
![The Southern Ring nebula is called a planetary nebula.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rcyXk7fcRnSxrJQZkTvR64-320-80.jpg)
Behold! The James Webb Space Telescope's stunning 1st science images are here.
By Rebecca Sohn last updated
NASA revealed the first science-quality images from the James Webb Space Telescope on July 12, 2022, marking the beginning of the observatory's tenure.
![first light depiction](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ryN3xsShU5Jo779xP5NAWT-320-80.jpg)
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope will change the way we see our solar system
By Rebecca Sohn published
In the next year, the James Webb Space Telescope will spend roughly 7% of its time focused not on distant galaxies, but on our own solar system. Here's a look at what it might see.
![artist's depiction of webb](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9AysSD3r4yQiQVWt9Wfrob-320-80.jpg)
James Webb Space Telescope's powers will be revealed in just weeks and scientists can't wait
By Rebecca Sohn last updated
The James Webb Space Telescope's first images are coming soon and scientists can't wait for us to see them.
![Hurricane Florence as seen from the International Space Station.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SyFhNatSqxayvCYnkBbnrd-320-80.jpeg)
New and improved satellites will help track storms this hurricane season
By Rebecca Sohn published
Atlantic hurricane season begins today (June 1), and several new weather satellites will collect valuable data to improve hurricane forecasting this year.
![An artist's depiction of a brain.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ucxuBVLtCw2KjwNwdUMVta-320-80.jpg)
New astronauts have changes in their brains after their first long-duration mission
By Rebecca Sohn published
Astronauts who go on their first long-duration space mission have differences in their brains compared with the brains of more experienced astronauts and non-astronauts.
![Plants grown in simulated lunar soil on the left and in Apollo sample on the right, seen 16 days after planting.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gKsmoSGHPLy4WxneQmvF9E-320-80.jpg)
Scientists grow 1st plants in moon soil
By Rebecca Sohn published
More than 50 years after the first Apollo samples were brought to Earth, scientists have successfully grown plants in lunar soil for the first time.
![An image of Pluto taken by the New Horizons probe in 2015 with evidence for potential cryovolcanism marked in blue.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MAuV7Cx4ceZfMTHqigF3ed-320-80.jpg)
Ice volcanoes on Pluto may still be erupting
By Rebecca Sohn last updated
An area of Pluto that researchers think was formed from the eruption of ice volcanoes is unique on the dwarf planet and in the solar system, a new study suggests.
![Bioscience Officer Jason Fischer harvests lettuce from a Lettuce Grow hydroponics greenhouse at HI-SEAS during an analog space mission, taking place on Earth.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TyEVmyuWBZunVU6ML4txh5-320-80.jpg)
'Space lettuce' could help astronauts avoid bone loss
By Rebecca Sohn published
Space lettuce could help astronauts maintain good bone health on long trips, a new study suggests.
![NASA astronaut Scott Kelly gave himself a flu shot in orbit in 2015.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CwdUQ2wFqd4zhqBCZi7ycD-320-80.jpeg)
How do viruses affect astronauts in space? Here's what we know so far.
By Rebecca Sohn published
Viruses can affect astronauts in space, even if they quarantine before launch.
![physics](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X9jqwT2qFY65HzHN4Bb7kj-320-80.jpg)
Stark racial disparities remain in US physics
By Rebecca Sohn published
Fostering and retaining racial diversity is an uphill battle in STEM, particularly in physics.
![An artist's depiction of the GOES-T satellite at work in Earth orbit.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ESDs7Fr3cTqhiZ8AL2qe9W-320-80.jpg)
New GOES-T weather satellite to offer scientists sharper eyes on Earth's climate
By Rebecca Sohn last updated
The GOES-T satellite is ready to take its place as part of the U.S.'s most sophisticated weather and environmental observation system.
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